From the most entertaining article I’ve ever read on public housing:
In reply, Lee said public housing affordability will always be an issue. While buyers would always want better flats — and priced cheaper — the government has to price flats “fair to the revenue it collects” and to the individual.
“Not only the present buyer, but the past buyer and the future buyer,” said Lee, who paused and then added: “If Mr Mah is unable to defend himself, he deserves to lose.”
While this reply drew laughter from the audience — and from Mah himself —Lee had this message for the opposition.
“No (political) party in the world has given its citizens … an asset that is as valuable as what we have given every family here. And you say that policy is at fault? You must be daft,” he said.
Three years away from Singapore, the scales have fallen from my eyes somewhat, and I’m less likely to be a reactionary. But I’m still very grateful for what has been given to me through my country.
By the way, whoever has been messing with the churches in Malaysia, and leaving pig’s heads in mosques “in retaliation” must have no idea what Christianity is about. Hello, forgiveness?
Peace out.
Two things that made me go aw, sweetness in the past two days:
1. The first was an iced caffé macchiato from Cova. Not only was it tasty (and effective), it was so pretty. The art of coffee, indeed.
Iced latté macchiato
2. The second was the unexpected addition of free socks (with the lead from the Korean F4 on them?!), little tinsel sweets, and a remarkably winsome message from an online store I got an amazing present for SV from. The message went something like, “Dear customer, we are Innolife from Korea. After a refreshing autumn, we are welcoming winter with you. Seoul in winter is a city full of colour and life. We hope our products and service will bring you a breath of Seoul. Thank you for your support. May your life be surrounded with love.”
Surprise attachments with a receipt
Quite a long while ago, a friend of mine (let’s call her LLP, haha) was brushing her teeth when she somehow managed to bust her back. Well, now that I’ve entered into her then-age bracket, it looks like I’m susceptible to such episodic mysteries. This morning, I felt my already-stiff neck go ‘TWAAAANNGG!’ when I was seized with a sneeze. EGADS was my first thought. YOWZER! was my second. Then EEEOUCH!
Sigh.
This evening, I went to a doctor with experience in sports medicine, and he did some chop-socky moves that forced my crazy-stiff muscle to relax a bit. That, and the painkillers and analgesic gel, has helped, though for long-term relief he recommended the following:
1. Good posture — sit up straight at the computer, always. Watching a decade-old video of me recently made me realise I’ve developed horrible posture despite being in NCC (OK, four years vs. rest of my life might not be a good counterbalance). So this is something I must definitely keep in mind, especially if I don’t want to look so irritatingly slouchy. Ugh, seeing yourself as others see you can really suck.
2. Regular massages — what kind, I asked. Thai, 推拿, whatever, he said. Fine. But those don’t come cheap, and how do you know whether the masseuse knows what he/she’s doing? Ugh. Does this mean I have to start going to Shenzhen for HK$88 massages?! Honestly, the only time I’ve stepped onto mainland China since I came to HK was for Shanghai last August …
3. “Stretching exercises” — quote-unquote because … the doc suggested yoga at first. I protested because the roots of the exercise, and the meditative weirdness confirmed through the trial lessons I once had with Pure Yoga, but then the doc said he was a Christian too and felt it just required an attitude readjustment. That’s what I initially thought, but I just didn’t feel comfortable and wanted to err on the side of caution. Am reading Kingdom Power and Chinese Culture by Abraham Poon now, which deals with traditions one should steer clear of, so maybe I’ll have better reasons ready next time. The doc decided to revise his recommendation to “stretching exercises”, but not before showing off some of the yoga manoeuvres he does every day, which solved all his neck problems, etc. etc. etc.
Now that I’m on the topic of bodily abuse, I might as well report that I’m toying with the idea of piercing my naturally whole earlobes. Not without impant-grade titanium though …
No, life didn’t stop at Christmas. I’ve just been hiding from doing, only to discover that much of the hiding was done from myself.
I’ve been having such strange dreams. Two or three nights ago, I dreamt I was washing dishes when I decided to take out what I presume was my inner ear and snip away a slice of it with the kitchen scissors, before trying to stuff back into my left ear. I was trying to balance out a missing piece of equal worth in my other ear, I think, in good ol’ dream-logic.
Perhaps you should have stopped reading after all.
I’ve been doing something I find very difficult and ungifted for — playing the piano for worship at church, thankfully just for the youth’s (which is highly stressful anyway) and children’s sessions. I’m really cringeworthy, and am only on the roster because we’re still waiting for fledgling wings to get stronger.
I’ll just have to take whatever lessons I can from this, then: learning how to practise regularly and hard, figuring out accompaniment without the crutch of readymade scores, playing in front of more than one person, working with new people, etc. But honestly, most of all, throwing my trust unto the One we’re suppose to be doing this for.
I know it’s not about how perfectly I can play (I know I can’t); it’s about consciously dedicating these hands, this body as a living sacrifice, in this small, uneventful way. I’m glad I’ve been given the opportunity to do so in such a supportive environment. I must, I simply must remember to be grateful and not give in to the twisted temptations of fear and folly.
If you’re interested in a much better take on what’s it all about, check out this little article.
I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them. (Hosea 11:4 NRSV)
